How Parkland can reduce budget shortfall

Parkland School District intends to spend $1.4 million to install synthetic turf at this soccer field.

Parkland School District intends to spend $1.4 million to install synthetic turf at this soccer field. (JIMI MCCULLIAN, THE MORNING CALL)

Opinion: Does Parkland really need to spend $1.4 million on turf?

In November, the Parkland School Board passed the controversial artificial turf project at a cost of $1.4 million by the narrow margin of 5-4. The meeting minutes posted on the district website claimed, "We are positioned to finance this project through the Capital Reserve Fund which would have no impact upon the local taxpayer." In December, the Parkland School District newsletter proudly made the same claim.

Now in January, just a month later, the district claims to need $3.2 million in tax money for "the retirement system as well as planned building improvements and textbook purchases" because the capital reserve fund will only support $5 million of the required $8.2 million needed.

At the February school board meeting, just two months since the approval of the turf project, it would be prudent for the board to revote on the decision and hopefully transfer the $1.4 million back into the capital reserve fund. This would cut the budget shortfall and request for additional taxes by nearly 50 percent. School taxes are already high enough. We need to stop spending on wants and focus taxpayer money on true needs.